Internationally successful, based in Switzerland
The engineering, electrical and metal industry occupies a key position in the Swiss national economy: it is the largest industrial employer, with approximately 330,000 employees and contributes more than 35 % of the goods exported from Switzerland, with exports at a value of 63 thousand million CHF (2009).
Today, the engineering, electrical and metal industry represents itself as an unquestionably high-tech sector with many facets. It influences all spheres of life and the economy, from homes and mobility to health and safety, including nutrition. Many companies in the Swiss engineering, electrical and metal industry occupy an internationally leading role in their sub-sectors. Successes in the foreign markets make a decisive contribution to the Swiss context for work and thought in this way.
Figures MEM industries
The sector in context
- Added value
The engineering, electrical and metal industry represents the largest industrial sector in Switzerland. The industry contributed 19.9 per cent to the gross domestic product in 2008; the proportion of the added value of the engineering, electrical and metal industry corresponded to 9.8 per cent.
Aligned to the world markets
- Goods export
About 80 per cent of the products of the engineering, electrical and metal industry are exported. The engineering, electrical and metal industry contributes 38.7 per cent to Swiss exports in total.
The Swiss engineering, electrical and metal publication ‘Panorama’ offers comprehensive information about the sector.